"Mia?" Joshua's voice said softly, behind me.
I wiped away my tears. "Yes?"
"Are you okay? What is that? News from home?"
"No...it's from Michael..." I said softly.
He sat next to me. "Oh. Mia, what is the story...the real one behind him?" He had gotten the pieces of the Michael saga, but not all of it. And he certainly was not going to get all of it now.
I stared at him. "He was my first love. He was my everything..."
"When did you guys break up?"
"We didn't..."
"Oh...so you are saying-"
"You can't break up when you never were together."
He tried reading my expression, something he'd come pretty good at. "But you had wanted to be?"
I nodded quietly. "Yeah. Definitely. You see, when I was a freshman in high school..." I started. "I wrote him these silly love letters, left them in his locker. I went through sooo much trouble to cover up my identity. I even had my friend write out the words on the cards... even had her deliver the cards into his locker."
"Okay..."
"Well, he figured out who it was, and then he embarrassed me at this winter carnival my school had for us. He made this stupid computer program and teased me about my cards-"
"He's a jerk then, right?" Joshua asked, trying to see why I would love this guy.
"No...that's the thing. I don't think he was teasing. Back then I was really, really paranoid about boys pretending to like me, that other guy Josh had done that. See, he had brought me to this dance, and invited all sorts of press. It was back when I first came out as a princess so the press was always hounding me. So he kissed me in front of all those people, my first kiss. I never really trusted guys after that."
"So, you didn't even trust this Michael guy?"
"No...I should have though. Now I'll just never know..."
"Mia...there's a reason why it's called a first love. You always have another one after that," he said putting his arm around me, hugging me. "You'll just...just have to meet someone else. I'm sure you'll have no problem."

It was after our boat had docked, most of us stayed behind a few extra days to relax. Surprisingly Grandmere had allowed me to do that. She hadn't demanded that I return to her immediately in New York so we could travel to Genovia together. I had so much fun with the girls, and spent very little time with Joshua. The girls and I took extreme bubble baths, happy to be back on American soil. Then we'd spend hours on a white sand beach....taking in the sun and the views of the cute life guards.
"Hey there ladies," one said to us after his shift ended. I ignored him because I was listening to Ali's Discman
"Hey, aren't you...you are Princess Amelia, aren't you?" he asked.
I opened one eye. "Excuse me?" My friends didn't know about my royal status. I had managed to figure out that Bebe had made up a story for Joshua. She wanted to see his reaction to the news.

"Yeah, she's a princess!" Sophie said with a laugh.
"Who are you?" I snapped.
"It IS you! I knew it! I am your cousin Rene's friend, Gerrad!"

Oh crap. He knew my cousin. "Well, yes I am. Can I be left alone though?" I asked politely.
"Oh, of course your highness. But when will you be going to Genovia? The festivals will be starting up. Rene and I would love to show you around the capital during festival!"

I looked uneasily at my friends, "Um, next week."
"Good then! I'll see you then, Princess!"
He left.
"Princess?" Ali asked.
I cringed, "I was thinking we could just go past that and forget it?"

"Um, no...can you elaborate?" Tawny asked.
"Well, I am the princess of a small European principality between France and Spain. No biggie."
They didn't say anything for awhile. "So do you know Prince William?" Ali asked. I laughed. Always with the boys. Forget the whole being worth millions of dollars. She thinks of the boys I meet.
"I met him a few times at different functions. He's pretty nice I guess. Don't know him very well."
"You know you'll be hooking us up for Spring Break next year!" Sophie teased.
I was really going to miss these girls.

A few nights later I was packing up once again and Joshua came into my room. "Hey there, Princess," he teased.
I rolled my eyes. How did I ever have a crush on this guy? "Hey Joshua."
"I told you that I'm going to New York before I head back to England, right?"

I looked at him skeptically. "No, you failed to mention that."
"Well. I am. I was thinking we could maybe fly up there together."
"I am going first class, DAHLING."
He laughed and fell onto my bed. "We can go on the same flight, can't we?"
I rolled my eyes again.
"You shouldn't do that you know. That's how Bebe's eyes got that way."
I laughed. "I was joking about the whole first class thing. Well, not really. I am going first class, but I'll order you a ticket as well."
"Mia, that isn't necessary."
"Oh yes it is. Those warm towels aren't much fun without someone to enjoy them with."
He smiled. "Fine...I guess I can let you fly me first class..."
I gave him a look. "Okay, I need to shower now. You have to leave."
"What, I can't shower with you?" he asked, laying the accent on thick.
"Oh...shut up you!" I said, pulling him off of my bed. "Leave. Now. I'll see you at dinner."
Those of us who had stayed in Florida ate together that night. It was most of our last night there. I exchanged contact information with all of my friends from the trip. They were all going to universities throughout the United States. Ali was going to Boston University, Sophie was heading to UCLA. Tawny was going to Michigan State. They thought I was lucky to be taking a year off. I wasn't so sure. I'd be doing work in offices of Green Peace in Monaco. Sure, it sounds exotic, but not when you have to live with your cousin and his possible gay lover.
I gave all the girls hugs good bye and we made promises to keep in touch. I told them they could visit me at the palace anytime they wanted to, they just needed to call and let me know so I could make the arrangements.
"Is that invitation extended to me?" Joshua asked as the girls went to their rooms.
"Of course it does, Mi-Joshua."
"You definitely almost called me Michael."
"I know...sorry."
"It's okay. I know I have a lot to live up to...as a friend that is." Our eyes locked again, like that first night we had talked.
"It's true," I teased. "Want to come listen to some really bad pop music with me in my room? It's kind of lonely now that Kate left."
"Gee, too bad she's gone," he teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever Joshua."
I blasted the radio that the motel had in the room. Some old school Mandy Moore came on. I started laughing, "How did this chick get a record deal?"
"She's a blonde beauty," he explained.
"Yeah, so what am I?" I teased, forgetting that I now had darker hair.
I started dancing like an idiot. He joined me. Who cared what we looked like? The curtains were closed. No one would see. Christina Aguilara came on. "'Come on on over baaaaaby,'" I sang, trying desperately not to laugh.
He took over. This guy amazed me. He could quote famous dead British poets, and sing stupid American pop music. He was cracking me up. "It's bad that you know the choreography," I said between laughter. "You are a good dancer."

He motioned for me to come to him. He pulled me tightly against him and started doing some dancing that I had never done with any other guy before. It was almost more sexual than the actual sex I had with Michael.
But in the end we broke down laughing and jumping on the beds. We ended up collapsing on the beds a little while later, "I'm glad we were able to still be friends," I said breathlessly.
He looked over at me with...sad eyes? "Yeah, me too. I'll miss ya, kiddo."
Kiddo. Great. I'm a kiddo to him again. What happened to darling? "Tiredness has struck me."
"Then sleep. I'll crash on this bed."
"Okay, good night Joshua."
We arrived in New York the next afternoon. Grandmere was staying at the Plaza so I had originally planned on having the limo bringing me there so she could see that I had survived my South American adventure, but I changed my mind. I didn't want her to meet Joshua yet. Plus, there was a possibility that Michael could be at his parent's apartment. I knew I didn't have the time to have write him a letter about what I wanted from him. Maybe it would mean more if I saw him face to face.

"Henri?" I asked the driver. "Would you please bring our bags to my mother's loft? I want to take a walk with Joshua."
"Certainly, your Highness."
Joshua and I got out of the limo about ten blocks from my apartment. I got out here on purpose. Fifth Avenue. The Moscovitz apartment. I started getting nervous as we started getting closer to it. I linked arms with Joshua for support, I noticed that this caused him to blush. I stopped suddenly. I saw him. He was kissing Vicky. Right there in front of the building. Right there for the whole world to see. I saw Miles the doorman making a face.
"What is it?" Joshua asked.
"That's him," I hissed.
"Michael?" he whispered.
"Yes," I said quietly.
"I would give my opinion of his appearance but he seems to be stuck on that girls face."
"Come on," I said, pulling him along. We walked right past them. "GET A ROOM!" I yelled. I knew he wouldn't recognize the back of my body because I had a tan now. I had cut my hair ultra short. He wouldn't know it was me.
I heard him laugh and say something to Vicky.